Sleep expert shares 100-second rule for babies to nod off again themselves
Gregory Robinson
A baby sleep expert has revealed a smart way to get your baby to drift off to sleep again if they wake up during the night.
It’s something lots of parents - especially those who have just had their first child - struggle with, but this rule could be incredibly effective.
Paediatric sleep consultant Lily explained in a TikTok post how her job is helping families get their ‘dream sleep’.
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Known as @dreamcoach on TikTok, Lily explained to her followers how to use the ‘respond versus react’ method.
“Parents, when your baby wakes up and they haven’t slept for very long, I want you to do just one thing," she explained.
“I promise this one thing will make a huge difference in them settling back to sleep and learning to fall asleep independently.”
The baby sleep expert added: "All I want you to do is watch the monitor and I want you to count to a hundred. Don't go in if they're fussing, just watch and respond versus react.
"It's normal for babies to wake up. They just need time to put themselves back to sleep.
"So giving them even just a hundred seconds...can make a huge difference and likely they will put themselves back to sleep."
The clip has attracted 52,000 likes and has been saved over 11,000 times since it was uploaded last week.
"I'm gonna try this cause I'm exhausted,” one parent wrote in the comments. “My one-year-old wakes up once a night and a few times will be fussy but ya girl's tired!! Thanks for advice."
One mum commented: “We do fuss it out. We give her a few mins if she’s not actually crying. If she’s crying. We go in and soothe her.”
However, one parent complained: “My baby screeches like a banshee the minute she wakes up.”
Another TikToker reflected: “I honestly wish I did this more when my baby [was] younger. I do it now but i really didn’t wait much when he was first born.”
Some parents were on the fence about the advice, with one person commenting: "You do you, but I’m not counting to anything if she wakes up crying. I will always go get her as soon as I can."
And there were also a few jokes in the comments section as one TikTok user joked: “Is the hundred second rule to put the baby back to sleep or me? If I count to a hundred I’m gonna fall back asleep.